Martinez on Ruiz's knee, plans for Rogers and Thompson

Catcher Keibert Ruiz continues to recover from a bone bruise on his right knee, but Nationals manager Davey Martinez is hopeful he will have the young backstop available off the bench tonight, assuming he gets through pregame activities without any issues.

"He's gonna go catch in the bullpen, take (batting practice), he's gonna run a little bit," Martinez said in his pregame Zoom session with reporters before the Nats open a series in Atlanta. "The swelling's gone down a little, but he's still got a little swelling."

Ruiz fouled a ball off his knee late in the opening game of Saturday's doubleheader against the Mets. He finished the game, but hasn't played since.

Riley Adams is tonight's starting catcher.

"If everything goes well, he'll be available off the bench today and then we'll see how he feels tomorrow," Martinez said.

* Though he's not listed among the starting pitchers scheduled to face the Braves over the next three days, lefty Josh Rogers has earned a look-see in the Nats rotation, Martinez said.

"We're trying to incorporate him in the starting rotation," the manager said. "After these couple days, we'll see if we can get him in there."

Rogers, who allowed three runs on four hits over 5 2/3 innings in winning his Nationals debut against the Mets in Saturday's nightcap, would have his next turn on Thursday, assuming the usual five days' rest.

But lefty Sean Nolin and Erick Fedde slated to start Wednesday and Thursday, respectively, the earliest Rogers could rejoin the rotation would be Friday for the opener of a three-game series at Pittsburgh.

"I have to talk to (pitching coach Jim) Hickey today and we'll sit down and get a game plan for him," Martinez said.

* Martinez has suggested a change in the pregame ritual for reliever Mason Thompson, who has worked to a 3.38 ERA in 14 games since arriving from the Padres ahead of the trade deadline in a deal for reliever Daniel Hudson.

"A lot of our ... relief pitchers, they throw off flat ground every day," Martinez said. "I wanted him ... after he throws his flat ground and gets loose to go out on the mound and throw 10 pitches. Just throw 75 percent, but throw pitches where he wants to work on his location, keeping the ball down. And out of 10 pitches, see how many balls he can throw in the location he wants to throw them in."

The Nationals are growing more comfortable using Thompson, a righty who was a starter before he converted exclusively to relief at Triple-A El Paso this season, and want him to use the remainder of the season to hone his game prep skills.

"It's his first time pitching in the bullpen and he's shown signs where he could be outstanding, he really can," Martinez said. "So we're going to continue to work with him. He's a guy who throws 95-plus (mph) and we're going to work on his breaking ball (and) slider, and hopefully he becomes a guy that we can count on for the bullpen."

It's clear that Thompson, 23, had made a good impression on his new team.

"I love his attitude," Martinez said. "He's willing to try anything to get better."